Build Your NBA Dream Team and We'll Guess How Old You Actually Are

By: Raj Chander
Estimated Completion Time
4 min
Build Your NBA Dream Team and We'll Guess How Old You Actually Are
Image: WikiCommons

About This Quiz

The 2019 offseason was marked by massive, league-shifting transactions. Just how much did the NBA change in 2019? Out of the 10 players who started the 2019 All-Star Game, five of them changed teams: Kemba Walker, Kyrie Irving, Kawhi Leonard, Kevin Durant and Paul George. Other massive stars who switched teams include Chris Paul, Russell Westbrook and Anthony Davis. 

It's safe to say that the league is going to look very different this year, a fitting change as we prepare to enter the 2020s. In fact, throughout its 73-year history the NBA has often been defined by the way things look at a certain time. In the league's earliest days back in the 1950s and 1960s, the game was painstakingly slow compared to the modern era. In the '70s and '80s we saw the development of stars like Julius "Dr. J" Erving and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. Modern fans recognize players who are now global stars like Kyrie Irving, Klay Thompson, Steph Curry and LeBron James. 

These different periods of the league are known best for the players who headlined them. We'll bet that if you tell us about the players and teams you stand for most, we can guess which era is closest to your heart; and by extension, how old you are.

Magic Johnson
Lucio10540 via WikiCommons
Who would you want commanding the floor as your starting point guard?
Magic Johnson
John Stockton
Chris Paul
Steph Curry

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Dwyane Wade
Erik Drost via WikiCommons
Scoring is critical – who is your starting shooting guard?
Dwyane Wade
Clyde Drexler
Klay Thompson
Michael Jordan

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Basketball arena
Dmytro Aksonov / E+ / Getty Images
Even in the modern era, market matters. What kind of city would you want your team to play in?
A tough yet loyal city that loves basketball
A good city for all-around living
Somewhere sunny with attractive people
A tech-forward city with lots of young people

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Shaquille O'Neal
Tbc via WikiCommons
Who would be holding down your starting lineup in the middle at center?
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
Tim Duncan
Shaquille O'Neal
Joel Embiid

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Crowd of fans at stadium
ferrantraite / E+ / Getty Images
What kind of promotions would you use to lure fans into your arena?
Who needs that stuff? We'd just play great ball.
Discounts on tickets
Free food and/or drinks
A social media night where fans can interact with our team online

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Jamal Crawford
Keith Allison via WikiCommons
You need good leadership beyond the starting lineup. Who would be your squad's second-string point guard, leading the bench unit?
Eddie Jordan
John Starks
Jamal Crawford
Lou Williams

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Three pointer
Neon Tommy via WikiCommons
How much would you emphasize the three-pointer as many teams today do?
No, we'd be more about playing tough ball.
I'd fit it in when it made sense.
I would want it to be a big part of our offense, but not the only thing.
Yes, absolutely!

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Basketball trainer
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Support staff are critical to any squad's success. Which of these athletic trainers would you hire?
Joe O'Toole
Tim Grover
Gary Vitti
Drew Hanlen

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Basketball mascot
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What kind of mascot would represent your team?
A tough animal
A gritty cowboy
A monster
Some kind of fantasy creature

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Serge Ibaka
Augustas Didžgalvis via WikiCommons
Who would you want playing as your backup power forward?
Kevin McHale
Serge Ibaka
Detlef Schrempf
Antawn Jamison

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Basketball team
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Recruiting only happens officially during free agency. How does your team entice players to join the franchise?
Giving them freedom to join and leave the team at will
Offering them lots of money and great perks
Explaining how they'd be able to win championships here
Getting them to buy in on our culture

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Pat Riley
Department of Defense via WikiCommons
Personnel moves can make or break a squad's success. Which legendary basketball mind would you want as GM?
Pat Riley
Red Auerbach
Phil Jackson
Gar Forman

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Stadium snacks
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Which of these snacks would be on the menu at your arena?
Nachos
Cookies in the shape of players
Perfectly cooked burgers
Steak

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Giannis Antetokounmpo
Keith Allison via WikiCommons
Frontcourt matchups are critical to winning in the NBA. At small forward, who would you want starting for your team?
Giannis Antetokounmpo
Tracy McGrady
LeBron James
Larry Bird

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Basketball uniform
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What team colors would you want?
Gold and navy
Teal and pink
Green and black
White and red

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Kevin Garnett
Eric Kilby via WikiCommons
Which legendary power forward would you want starting for your team?
Charles Barkley
Tim Duncan
Kevin Garnett
Anthony Davis

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Basketball entertainment
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What kind of entertainment would you want in your team's arena?
Esports matches
Elaborate dance routines
Really good rock bands
DJs spinning live

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Basketball isolation
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What type of on-court scheme would be most important for your team?
Pick and roll
Isolation drives
Triangle offense
Cutting patterns

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Ralph Sampson
Dunkman827 via YouTube
Who would be your backup center, taking over in the middle for the bench unit?
Ralph Sampson
Luc Longley
Ben Gordon
Mason Plumlee

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Basketball and money
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Do you think your team should spend a ton of money to attract star free agents?
Only for a select few really big names
Yes, as much as possible
No, we'd build a culture of winning and bring people in that way.
Yes, but I would also try to create great relationships with players and agents.

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Carmelo Anthony
Tim Shelby via WikiCommons
Who would you want as your team's second-string small forward?
PJ Tucker
Carmelo Anthony
Chris Mullin
George Gervin

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Tired basketball player
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Would you rest players to load manage?
Heck no – if they're healthy and getting paid, they're playing!
Not unless they specifically requested it
Yes, when the coaching staff felt it necessary
All the time, it's important to preserve their bodies for the postseason.

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Clyde Drexler
University of Houston via WikiCommons
Which famous retired player would you want working for the team?
Clyde Drexler
Patrick Ewing
Tracy McGrady
Dirk Nowitzki

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Two basketball trophies
Thomas Northcut / Photodisc / Getty Images
How would you honor former players?
Creating a song in their honor to play during games
Building a statue of them outside the arena
Holding a private party for their friends, family and teammates
Hanging their jersey in the rafters and giving them an award

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Eric Gordon
Keith Allison via WikiCommons
Who would you want coming off the bench as your backup shooting guard?
Eddie Johnson
Anthony Mason
Jamal Crawford
Eric Gordon

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Ray Allen
Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff via WikiCommons
Which three-point specialist would you want?
Larry Bird
Reggie Miller
Ray Allen
Steph Curry

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Basketball excitement
adamkaz / E+ / Getty Images
What kind of music would you have playing at the arena in between plays?
Soulful swing music
Hard rock
Techno
Hip-hop

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Basketball players
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How would you feel about your players playing for an international team in the offseason?
I'd be worried, but I couldn't stop them.
It would be fine with me.
I would try to convince them not to play.
It would be very concerning.

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Basketball partner
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Which local companies would your team partner with?
Local marketing companies
Plumbers and repair companies
Esports teams
Attorneys and doctors

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Basketball analytics
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How much would you want your team to rely on analytics?
I'd rather use my own two eyes.
To a degree, but instinct should be more important
It should be a big part of our overall strategy.
We should be driven by analytics.

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You Got: